Mt. Timpanogos this weekend

**boarderline** · 08-25-2005, 10:25 PM

Inspired by Backpack's thread about skiing the 'Bird Labor Day weekend, I decided to take a peek after work at the summer snow at Mt. Timpanogos for some recon on summer turns. There are definately some skiiable lines left to be had. Anyone want to hit them up, perhaps this weekend?

Nice patch viewable from Highway 92 in American Fork Canyon.

Good looking chute further down the road near the Mt. Timpanogos Campground.
Looks like a short approach and decently long and steep. The snow is continuous.

Scenic shot of Bridal Veil Falls on the way out in Provo Canyon:

**Ski Monkey** · 08-26-2005, 12:32 AM

I think sat is a no go, but sunday would work for me. I still need an august day and the Timp Campground chute looks nice.

**boarderline** · 08-26-2005, 01:09 AM

I'll be bringing an axe/crampons as the snow may be hard and icy. Want to meet up at the campground parking lot or ride up together?

**AltaPowderDaze** · 08-26-2005, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by boarderline

I'll be bringing an axe/crampons as the snow may be hard and icy. Want to meet up at the campground parking lot or ride up together?

what have the overnight temp been up there?

**Woodsy** · 08-26-2005, 08:19 AM

my thoughts exactly.
snow on timp this time of year is usually slushy snowcone.
temps up here in BCC haven't dipped below 40 yet and clicking around here:
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_foreca...lon=-111.56875
cnt find any freezing temps, even up around 11,000.

**boarderline** · 08-26-2005, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by AltaPowderDaze

what have the overnight temp been up there?

Mid 40's to low 50's. Traction and ability to self-arrest when booting up chutes are also key.

**boarderline** · 08-26-2005, 01:56 PM

Bueller, Bueller? Anyone else want to come up? Utards - come get some couloir action - in August!

**stump832** · 08-26-2005, 01:58 PM

August is already played out. September turns are where its at.

**boarderline** · 08-28-2005, 07:13 PM

Sometimes summer skiing/riding is more about being outside and going on an adventure with great company than the actual turns. Today it was definately like that. It can't all be blower and faceshots, especially in August, right?.

Ski Monkey, Yenta, and I met up at the Mt. Timp trailhead. We got our gear on and began to try to find a route to the chute I had spotted earlier in the week.

Chute from the road:

After a bit of a misstart (going up a trail that led us away from our target), we took another trail that led us closer to where we wanted to be.

Once we had our target in sight, we started the ascent.

Yenta and Ski Monkey walking on what appeared to be old avy debris covered with tree branches and pine needles:

Nice view of Timp:

After crossing the avy debris, a rather spicy bushwhacking session began. I regretted not packing a machete, and kept looking for Viet Cong hiding in the bushes.

The vegetation was thiiick, with tons of fallen trees, loose rocks, stinging plants, and overhanging tree branches that seemed to love snagging boards and skis. Yenta's and Ski Monkey's route finding skills were great and they made great time up the hill. I didn't. Oh well.

This pretty much sums up the ascent and descent bushwhack:

Once the ascent bushwhack was over with, we reached the bottom of the chute. The bottom was all covered with more deadwood and pine needles, probably from the large avy that ripped out a huge amount of trees looker's left in the first photo.

Closeup of the avy debris:

After a break to rehydrate and refuel, we started the climb into the chute.

Yenta booting up:

After reaching the base of the snow, Ski Monkey was the first to boot up to an area that was free enough of debris where we could make some turns. The snow was pretty suncupped and covered with pine needles, tree branches and rocks. Not the best conditions, but still fun.

Ski Monkey skiing:

Yenta went next. I don't have pics of her riding, hopefully Ski Monkey can fill in the blanks here. She did well. I was impressed with her riding given the conditions.

Booting up and getting skis/boards on in the steep chute was rather interesting, to say the least.

I went last. I sucked. I fell on my @$$ more times than I'd be comfortable with. Oh well. Feels good to get back on snow after some downtime (damn foot injury).

After we were done riding, we had the rather interesting task of downclimbing from the end of the chute, over the avy debris, and back down to the vegetation. Yenta and Ski Monkey made great time downclimbing with their trekker poles (need to get some of those) and I downclimbed with an ice axe and careful foot placement.

Then the descent bushwhack ensued. Holy crap. The bush seemed thicker more difficult to pass this time. Ski Monkey and Yenta's bushwhack routefinding skills came in handy here, eventually leading back to the trail. Thanks for being patient. Yenta had to be at work by 3:30, so they took off and I went down to the car for a cold beer in the cooler.

If I make turns in September/October, it'll be 11 out of 12 month since October 2004 that I've applied edges to snow in Utah. Fun stuff.

**Trackhead** · 08-28-2005, 07:30 PM

Nice effort involved.

**Dromond** · 08-28-2005, 08:10 PM

heheee that is the dirtiest snow I have ever seen skied! Looks like a blast though

**Ski Monkey** · 08-28-2005, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by Trackhead

Nice effort involved.

Heh... Just a bit of a cluster looking for charlie and avoiding poison itchy stuff.

Ok, more pics...

yentna crossing the stream.

borderline in the bush.

yentna riding.

borderline riding.

snow cave

starting the downclimb.

yentna looking for spiders.

what are we doing?

having fun?

borderline

more here at my gallery site.

Was a cool adventure with borderline even if the snow left something to be desired. Hell, it was august so it was all good just getting on the sticks. Sorry to bail on you borderline so quickly, we made it just in time.

**Dromond** · 08-28-2005, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by Ski Monkey

That pic is great. An unusual combination.

**yentna** · 08-28-2005, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by boarderline

Yenta went next. I don't have pics of her riding, hopefully Ski Monkey can fill in the blanks here. She did well. I was impressed with her riding given the conditions.

Heh, you must have been looking at your foot placement climbing when I went down - cause I fell on my ass many Many times as well. Grin, but that's okay, it was still fun. What an adventure - I just kept shaking my head and laughing at our what, stupidity? Bravery? Foolhardiness? Daringness? Addiction? It was pretty cool.

And sorry for having to bail early - if it wasn't for working, I'd have taken a more leisurely - if it could even have been considered leisurely at any pace with all that brush - hike down. Thanks for the idea and for hanging with us and not minding the rush I was in. Great times!

**Endlessseason** · 08-28-2005, 11:29 PM

I'm impressed. I don't know if I've ever tried to ski snow that heinous looking. How long was the round trip for you guys?

**boarderline** · 08-28-2005, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by Endlessseason

I'm impressed. I don't know if I've ever tried to ski snow that heinous looking. How long was the round trip for you guys?

Car to car for me was about 4.5 hours. Most of that time was spent trying to find a way through The Thicket from Hell ©, as the pictures indicate.

As the various TR's indicate, the most skiiable snow with by FAR the easiest approach in Ootah right now is in Pipeline Bowl at the Bird.

**boarderline** · 08-29-2005, 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by yentna

Heh, you must have been looking at your foot placement climbing when I went down - cause I fell on my ass many Many times as well. Grin, but that's okay, it was still fun. What an adventure - I just kept shaking my head and laughing at our what, stupidity? Bravery? Foolhardiness? Daringness? Addiction? It was pretty cool.

And sorry for having to bail early - if it wasn't for working, I'd have taken a more leisurely - if it could even have been considered leisurely at any pace with all that brush - hike down. Thanks for the idea and for hanging with us and not minding the rush I was in. Great times!

Glad to hear that you made it to work on time, and impressed that you could work a whole shift on your feet after that climb and descent.